Scythe blade and snath



Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED sTATEs Irisk'rla:NT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to scythe blades and snaths, and has for one of its objects to pro-l duce a scythe blade of strong, durable, eicient and inexpensive construction, one type having I the blade and snath of integral construction, and the other type having the snath and blade of separable members.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved snath construction inr which the end of the customary wooden handle is engaged only by a pair of encircling clamp rings to avoid the weakening of the handle by rivets or the like passing therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to produce a construction having an improved method of adjusting the blade to suit the particular operator using the scythe, and in which the heel of the blade is arcuate and lits against a corresponding shoulder on the snath so that a firm support, regardless of blade adjustment, is always provided.

With the general objects named in view and others as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a separate blade and clamp embodying the invention.

VFigure 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Figure 1 with the blade indicated in section.

Figure 3 is a iront end viewcf the blade broken away to illustrate parts otherwise hidden.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a construction in which the blade is integral with the handle clamping bands or members.

In the said drawing, where like reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, 1 and 2 respectively indicate front and rear s lit clamping bands adapted to receive the end of the scythe handle 3, and being held in clamped position on the handle by bolts 4. The bands are secured together on opposite sides of the handle by connecting the pieces or straps 5 and 6.

The lower plate 6 (when the Scythe is in use), against which the shank l of a scythe blade 8 flatly rests, is provided adjacent its iront end with an upstanding arcuate orcurved shoulder 9 struck on the arc of a circle around which the blade moves as will hereinafter appear, against which the curved or arcuate heel or rear end of the blade abuts to absorb the shock incident to the cutting operation, it being noted that with this type of construction, the blade always has full abutting contact with the snath and is thereby better venabled to resist shock incident to its use. The rear end of the plate 6 is formed with ,60 a plurality of upstanding spaced teeth 10 to engage corresponding notches 11 in the end of the shank so that the blade may be adjusted to suit the operator, said plate also having an upstanding heavy abutment 12 to act as a stop for the 65 end of the shank.

Formed integrally with the shank adjacent its front end is a pin 13 received Within an opening in the plate 6, and said shank is held rigidly clamped at its front end by an overlying clamping bar 14 engaged at its opposite ends by nuts and bolts 15 carried by the snath, while the rear end of the shank is adjustably clamped in position by means of a headed bolt 16 slidably mounted in an arcuate slot 17 in the plate so that the 75 blade may be adjusted on the teeth 10 as above mentioned. Y Y

InFigure 4 a modied construction is illustrated, in which the shank 18 is adjusted to nt against one face of the end of the Scythe handle, the shank being integrally formed with a pair of front and rear split clamping bands 1 and 2, encircling the handle and held in position by clamping bolts, not shown.

From the above description, it will be apparent that while I have described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that I reserve the right to all changes within the spirit of the invention and without the ambit of the prior art.

I claim:-

1. In a scythe, the combination with a handle, of a pair of split clamping bands encircling and clamped to the handle, a tie plate securing said bands together and resting ilatwise against one faceV of the handle, a scythe blade shank resting ilatly on said plate, a pin projecting from the shank into the plate,4 locking means between the endoi the shank and the plate to adjustably secure thershank when rocked around said pin, and a clamping bar overlying the shank to clamp the latter tightly to the plate.

2. In a scythe, the combination with a handle, of a pair of split clamping bands encircling and clamped to the handle, a tie plate securing said bands together and resting latwise against one face of the handle, a scythe blade shank resting flatly on said plate, means to adjustably interlock the end of the shank and the plate, and a clampn ing bar overlying the shank at a point remote 0 a pair of upwardly projecting bolts on opposite sides of the shank at a point spaced from its interlocked end, and a clamping plate carried by said bolts for clamping the shank down upon the underlying band. I

JOHN M. WILKINSON. 

